Abstract

To understand complex biological systems, we need to observe those small systems. Super-resolution microscopy provides ways for detecting single molecules, while making use of an optical microscope. Fluorophores are attached to nanostructures that start blinking when illuminated with a laser. Various methods are possible to attach fluorophores to the structures. Hereafter the technique called total internal fluorescence microscopy is used to let the fluorophores blink and detect them. This research has shown that passivation of the surface with polyethylene glycol is an essential step in this as well as the use of DNA strings between the surface and the fluorophores. However, future research needs to be done to obtain super-resolved images since the distance between the fluorophores and the surface is too high to be able to detect with total internal fluorescence microscopy.